Fabrication of biomimetic super-hydrophobic surface on aluminum alloy

Inspired by microstructure characteristics of surfaces of typical plant leaves such as petal of red rose, the biomimetic super-hydrophobic surface of aluminum alloy has been successfully fabricated by laser processing and surface modification by DTS (CH3(CH2)(11)Si(OCH3)(3)). The morphological features, chemical composition, and super-hydrophobicity of resultant surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements. The super-hydrophobic surface exhibited a microstructure consisting of myriad micro-scale crater-like pits. It is found that the super-hydrophobicity is synchronously governed by both the surface chemical composition and geometrical microstructure structures. The highest water contact angle of resultant surface reaches as high as 161.0 degrees. Moreover, corrosion resistance property of these prepared films against NaCl solution is elucidated using electrochemical measurements; it is found that the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy is also considerably improved.